See The Very Best Of New Hampshire's Notches In One Day On This Epic Road Trip
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Ken MacGray
Author
In some areas of the world they are called passes. In others they are called gaps. In New Hampshire they are called notches—those locations where roadways travel between two mountain ranges. The Granite State has many such notches, but here are three that can be combined into a scenic day trip through the White Mountains.
Franconia Notch, located along I-93, is home to what was once The Old Man Of The Mountain, a New Hampshire landmark. The great stone profile succumbed to nature and fell from Cannon Mountain in 2003.
One of the Notch's best attractions is Flume Gorge, a natural gorge comprised on Conway granite whose walls rise some 90 ft. high. More information is available on the Flume Gorge website.
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The Basin is a quick stop off the Franconia Notch Parkway. This small waterfall has been scoured and smoothed by centuries of water and sediment flow.
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The steep walls of Crawford Notch, through which U.S. Route 302 passes, provide stunning mountain scenery as high ridges rise on either side. Early travelers first ventured through this area during the late 1700s.
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A short and mostly easy hike leads to the top of Mt. Willard and its iconic view southward down the Notch.
During foliage season, Crawford Notch puts on one of the most stunning display of colors in the state.
Pinkham Notch, located along New Hampshire Route 16, forms the pass between the Presidential Range/Mt. Washington and the neighboring Carter-Moriah Range. Some of the highest mountains in New Hampshire are in this region.
Stop for a short hike at Glen Ellis Falls, where the Ellis River plunges more than 60 feet. Learn more at newenglandwaterfalls.com.
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From Pinkham Notch, the scenic Ellis River follows Route 16 downhill toward the town of Jackson. Pulloffs along the highway offer places to stop and enjoy the water.
For more information about these scenic locations and to plan your day trip, visit the following websites:
Franconia Notch State Park
Crawford Notch State Park
Pinkham Notch Visitor Center At Joe Dodge Lodge
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Featured Addresses
Franconia Notch State Park, Flume Gorge, Daniel Webster Hwy, Lincoln, NH 03251, USA
Crawford Notch State Park, 1464 US-302, Hart's Location, NH 03812, USA
AMC Pinkham Notch Visitor Center, 361 NH-16, Gorham, NH 03581, USA